Universal connection hub with peripheral organizing bays

Abstract

The present inventor devised, among other things, a universal connection hub with one or more peripheral storage bays. One exemplary connection hub includes one or more connection hubs within a rectangular housing. The housing has a generally vertical exterior sidewall with two bays for receiving and storing corresponding peripheral modules, such as a rechargeable battery and a portable hard drive. The peripheral modules include connectors which connect to corresponding connectors of one of the internal connection hubs. The connection hub is itself connected to a USB or Firewire port connector mounted in the exterior sidewall for connection to a laptop or notebook computer. Flat top and bottom panels are mounted to the vertical sidewall. When sized appropriately, the housing supports a laptop or notebook computer, giving the appearance of a docking station. The peripheral storage bays, which can receive various types of devices, such as smart phones, music players, hard drives, batteries, television tuners, and so forth, ultimately reduce the clutter on user work surfaces.

1 . A connection apparatus for computing devices, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a sidewall;   at least one USB or Firewire connector mounted in the sidewall of the housing;   a connection hub electrically coupled to the one connector and located within the housing, the connection hub having at least one other connector;   first and second peripheral bays providing access to an interior region of housing;   a first peripheral module positioned within the first peripheral bay and having a first connector electrically coupled to the connection hub.   a second peripheral module positioned within the second peripheral bay and having a second connector electrically coupled to the connection hub.   
     
     
         2 . The connection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first peripheral module includes a rechargeable battery, and the second peripheral module includes a data storage device. 
     
     
         3 . The connection apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the rechargeable battery is coupled to power the connection hub and the data storage device. 
     
     
         4 . A connection apparatus for computing devices, the apparatus comprising:
 Housing means for defining an interior;   hub means, within the interior, for replicating a port connection on a computing device;   first and second means for a peripheral device within the interior;   a first peripheral module positioned within the first peripheral bay and having a first connector electrically coupled to the connection hub.   a second peripheral module positioned within the second peripheral bay and having a second connector electrically coupled to the connection hub.   
     
     
         5 . The connection apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first peripheral module includes a rechargeable battery, and the second peripheral module includes a data storage device. 
     
     
         6 . The connection apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the rechargeable battery is coupled to power the connection hub and the data storage device. 
     
     
         7 . A docking station for coupling to a laptop computer having a plurality of i/o ports and a battery, the docking station comprising:
 a power cord for coupling to an AC power outlet   means for coupling to and expanding one or more of the i/o ports of the laptop computer;   a first battery bay for receiving and charging a first battery compatible with the laptop computer, with first battery bay coupled to a regulated DC power supply coupled to the power cord;   a first hard drive bay for receiving a first portable hard drive module, the first hard drive bay having at least one i/o port for coupling to an i/o port of the laptop computer via the means for coupling; and   an enclosure for enclosing the first battery bay and the first hard drive bay, the enclosure having a top major surface for supporting the laptop computer and having a front face extending upward above the top major surface to hide the seam between a lower surface of the laptop computer and the top major surface of the docking station when the laptop computer is docked at the docking station.   
     
     
         8 . The docking station of  claim 7 , further including a bay for receiving, syncing, and charging a mobile telephone, such as the iPhone. 
     
     
         9 . The docking station of  claim 7 , further comprising a built-in or integrated surge protector coupled between the power cord and the regulated DC power supply. 
     
     
         10 . The docking station of  claim 7 , further including a second battery bay for receiving and charging a second battery compatible with the laptop computer. 
     
     
         11 . The docking station of  claim 7 , further including a second hard drive bay for receiving a second portable harddrive module, the second hard drive module having at least one i/o port for coupling to an i/o port of the laptop computer via the means for coupling. 
     
     
         12 . The docking station of  claim 7 , further including means for coupling to a computer display; means for coupling to a printer; and means for coupling to an interne connection. 
     
     
         13 . A docking station for coupling to a laptop computer having a plurality of i/o ports and a battery, the docking station comprising:
 a power cord for coupling to an AC power outlet;   means for coupling to one or more computer displays;   a first battery bay for receiving and charging a first battery compatible with the laptop computer, with first battery bay coupled to a regulated DC power supply coupled to the power cord.   
     
     
         14 . The docking station of  claim 13 , further including an enclosure for enclosing the first battery bay, the enclosure having a top major surface for supporting the laptop computer and having a front face extending upward above the top major surface to hide the seam between a lower surface of the laptop computer and the top major surface of the docking station when the laptop computer is docked at the docking station. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a docking station, the method comprising:
 coupling the docking station to an AC power source;   loading a spare battery for the laptop computer into the docking station; and   charging the spare battery via power derived from the AC power source.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 coupling a mobile telephone or music player to the docking station; and   charging the mobile telephone or music player via power derived from the AC power source.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the docking station has a bay for receiving a peripheral device, the method comprising:
 installing a first hard drive module in the bay and storing data from a laptop computer on the first hard drive; and   removing the first hard drive module from the bay and installing another type of peripheral device into the bay.